It was $500 at the time if I recall correctly.

They used to be cheap - glad I bought a spare awhile back - https://www.pinballlife.com/metallica-sparky-figure.html

All -

I just received my Metallica Sparky Topper from TiltTopper... It came with 0 instructions on where to connect the power supply cable.

Where do I connect this cable? Can someone provide a photo? I would think it would need to be connected with the lights that get triggered behind Sparky as it kinda is "interactive"?

Not home to check connection, but the topper is sound activated .

Case closed.

All is well. Thank you to the individual who reached out to TiltTopper. He responded ASAP with details on where to plug in the power cable.

I was going to reach out to them directly, but given many folks had installed topper on their own machines the community could answer as well.

There was no instructions provided and the link at the website references Spike systems.

Not really a source. Terry at PBL had 1 available. Looks like he has another but the price went UP!

I have a complete set of plastics and cannot believe I didn't get a spare Sparky back in the day.

I'm glad I got a Sparky spare little after I bought my NIB Premium in 2018 from Pinball life for $200. Today's price is crazy.

I did the same. in fact, I still have 2 NOS premium playfields for mine

wow! that was smart... I'd kill for a NOS playfield for my older game. Hold onto those, they will be worth their weight in gold in 10 years!

Thankfully the previous owner of my machine treated it very well so mine is still like new. I still wouldn't mind having a spare though!

Occasionally the coffin magnet on my Met premium holds the ball to long, preventing it from entering the ball lock.Then the magnet returns back to the playfield ,still holding the ball. After the magnet returns to the playfield,the ball comes loose ,and goes back into play. I also noticed that if I hit the coffin magnet right after the ball was released,the magnet grabs the ball,and sometimes its released into the coffin lock,like it should
I did replace the balls,but the problem is I can still hear that the magnet is still being energized,so the ball isn't released.
Can this be a problem with the magnet board?
I've been going back and forth with Sterns tech support,and so far no improvement.

The ball lock plunger was acting up,so I gave the optos a quick cleaning with alcohol,and they seem a little better. Before the cleaning the the ball lock plunger would keep firing after it was empty. I'm not really sure if the cleaning helped or not.

Yes, I got a plastic set from Marco. Several of mine were broken. This thing is so fuggin’ dirty!!

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I recently bought a Metallica and I have a “ride the lightning” mod that I’d like to sell. PM if interested. I also have other mods to sell that I will be posting soon.

What is that?

Welcome to the club! Now you need to work on getting to End of the Line before Saturdays zoom session!

If you have an original release game up to a certain point serial # then you may have an original magnet board that has been replaced by stern if you submitted a ticket to replace as they had problems like you are experiencing here. You can look up that stern bulletin and check yourself and stern may help you out on that . Good luck . Met premium is my number 1 pin made ever !!!! And not sure why anyone needs a spare playfield as mine looks like it did day one with no evidence it will ever need to be swapped with an owner that keeps up proper maintenance and cleaning!

yes, the latest rev of the magnet board is revision D

I'll double check. I remember checking when I bought this game, and I thought I was okay with the year mine was made.I guess it still doesn't mean a newer board can't be shot.
Thanks for your help.

Thanks,I only saw two bulletins at Stern. One for the scoop,and the other for the magnet board. It says that my machine has the new magnet board due to my serial number.
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That does sound like a magnet board issue if you've already tried new balls. You can check the board itself to see which part number is stamped on it.
But the solenoid firing over and over sounds like a separate issue. Check those optos in switch test. Could need new optos or the small board that drives them.

Do you have any lighting mods that could be affecting optos? Many have reported problems with the Cross and inline drops optos due to lighting mods.

Thanks for the suggestions,I already have a new magnet board and six optos added to my cart. I might as well add the small opto board to my cart as well.
I do have Mezel Mods cemetery arch added to my grave yard. That's the only electrical mod added to my game.
Quick question,in the switch test,how do I test the optos? I was putting a business card in front of them and they all made a noise like they were active.
I'll be away all day today,so I have to get back to my Metallica tomorrow.
Thanks again
Ralph

I have a few mods I’d like to sale! PM with offers if interested. Will ship at buyers expense.

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Nothing wrong with testing like that. But a better way would be to roll a ball in there one at a time to make sure the ball is triggering a response. Also important that none of the optos a triggering without anything blocking them. Try going into test mode and hitting on the cabinet and playfield with your hand and see if anything triggers.

Will there be a rerun of the sparky toy?

Does Sparky tend to break over time? Mine is still ok after a few years, but now I regret not buying a spare when prices weren’t insane.

New Sparky.Pinball Life $900 Damn!!

Any of y’all Premium guys have a extra hammerhead they wanna sell?

Wow.. they increased the price by $100 in the past week. Dang.

The only consistent problem is the foot breaks off. Hopefully, that does not happen with these prices for a replacement.

Isn't there one for sale 3 posts up?

Maybe we need a mod so the ball never hits the feet and/or there's some kind of cushion there.

Rob

3d printable booties that go over his shoes might work. Print them in TPU so they give some cushion. Not sure if it would affect the trajectory of the ball though, I'd have to take a closer look.

Oh no... the bash toy is getting bashed! Maybe we should print him a skirt too....

Quick question,how would you add a ball to the coffin lock to test the optos,like you mentioned?
I'm not sure if this was the cause of the problem or not. I disconnected the wire that connects to the magnet board from the coffin magnet,and reseated it.Then I kept hitting the coffin newton ball to start Coffin multiball. I caused five cycles of coffin multiball,and the coffin lock and coffin magnet worked perfectly? I'm a little suspicious that this was the problem ,but so far it's been perfect.

Yeah when those feet break off you will sing a different tune trying to buy a replacement, if you can even find one.

Rob

Is it not feasible to repair the feet if they break off? I would try using some epoxy rather than replacing the whole figure.

I've seen someone 3d print new feet for it. Epoxy might work but it's only a matter of time before it breaks again.

I would not buy a replacement. Broken feet can be fixed. Stronger than original. I'm a master with epoxy!
Don't throw your crippled Sparky away... I'll happily take him and give him a new life.

Yes it's feasible.... Had both feet break off and epoxy worked perfectly, been bashing the hell out of sparky for years and epoxy hasn't failed... is stronger than original

Intersting. Maybe the epoxy has a bit of give so it doesn't fracture like the original material can.

I think it’s safe to say. Once Pinball life sales out of there Sparkys. You’ll never find one ever again for less.

I'd say your right.....

I'll take that bet. They will be run again at some point and come down in price.

Next one, if there is one, will be 1k.

Terry doesn’t gouge. New vs old. Pics don’t do justice.

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The heads are off kilter, or do they straighten up when installed?

Influenced by the spring that attaches from the next to the head. It can be “bent” a little.

Not sure if there is a cleaner method.

Cool. Good to have options years after a game goes out of production.

What’s his price?

https://www.pinballlife.com/metallica-sparky-figure.html

Would you happen to have a pic or remember which epoxy you used?